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3 Prototypes From HP, In Outline

Posted by timothy on from the /_337-photoshop-sk1llz dept.

tekgoblin writes "Since the recent HP buyout of PALM we have been waiting for what HP may have in store for us. Well HP's CTO Phil McKinney has tweeted some pictures of 3 new devices that could be released in the near future." Note: the pictures' most relevant bits are blacked out with the subtlety of an expurgated FBI document, but they have me curious, especially about the wrist-worn device.

104 comments

  1. Those are awesome.. by black3d · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..designer frames. The black boxes.. eh..

    --
    "The true measure of a person is how they act when they know they won't get caught." - DSRilk
    1. Re:Those are awesome.. by BonquiquiShiquavius · · Score: 5, Funny

      Quick...someone zoom in on the reflections in the monitor and enhance!

    2. Re:Those are awesome.. by fermion · · Score: 2, Funny

      I going to do this next time I am asking for venture capital. Take a picture of an iphone, an ipad, and lg watch phone, black out the details, and say I have new cool devices that will take over the market.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    3. Re:Those are awesome.. by pnevin · · Score: 1

      It's like, how much more black could this be? The answer is none. None more black.

    4. Re:Those are awesome.. by black3d · · Score: 1

      When I look at these pictures, all I think is "Jackal. A jackal. Is it a jackal? It's a jackal! A jackal!"

      --
      "The true measure of a person is how they act when they know they won't get caught." - DSRilk
    5. Re:Those are awesome.. by cheater512 · · Score: 1

      How do you know there is anything actually there? His hand could be empty and nothing on his wrist.

    6. Re:Those are awesome.. by Lucky75 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Naw, don't you know? You can get a lot more reflections off the eyes than off the monitor. Zoom in on the eyes, extrapolate the reflection and enhance that!

      --
      DNA -- National Dyslexic Association
    7. Re:Those are awesome.. by oztiks · · Score: 1

      We haven't considered that HP may of been able to invent hand-held blackholes.

      If it means the cost of manufacturing requires a LHC per device, in theory it should be cheaper than the iPad.

    8. Re:Those are awesome.. by BonquiquiShiquavius · · Score: 2, Funny

      Pfft...real techs go to the source and scan the retinas

    9. Re:Those are awesome.. by xtracto · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Both you and GP where close...

      If you zoom in the screen reflections you will only get the *back* of the devices.

      You were closer, however what needs to be done is to zoom on the screen reflections looking for the eyes, then zoom into those and zoom again on the respective eye reflections to get the image of the front of the devices.

      On a serious note, I have lost every desire to buy HP devices. Nowadays they are *very* poor quality.

      The last thing I bought was an HP notebook about 10 years ago... it lasted for about 3 years and suddenly the DC connector stopped working (it seems it was a known issue on HPs that the solder points of the jacks were crappy). In addition, my brother recently bought an HP netbook... it a bit more than 1 year (enough so that the warranty ended) before it just stopped working (the motherboard was fried).

      I have been buying ASUS since about 15 years (first, mainboards... GREAT mainboards along with ABit) and later I have bought 3 EEE netbooks (1 for me, 1 for my wife and 1 for a friend who liked our devices) and they all have been great so far (2 years the oldest).

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
    10. Re:Those are awesome.. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      You were closer, however what needs to be done is to zoom on the screen reflections looking for the eyes, then zoom into those and zoom again on the respective eye reflections to get the image of the front of the devices.

      On a serious note

      I thought you were being serious. Don't you watch CSI?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    11. Re:Those are awesome.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did anyone else see the tags or headline and read 3 black handjobs? I know it may be politically incorrect but got me excited enough to read the article and *sigh* disappointment.....

    12. Re:Those are awesome.. by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      If you zoom in the screen reflections you will only get the *back* of the devices.

      But if you look at the distorted images in the guys spectacles, then even without mythical enhancement, you can see what I think is his arm and the conventional laptop. So without firing up the Infinite Improbability Drive to power the image processor, there is visible information in the picture.
      Maybe the best way to avoid information leaking would have been to not take any pictures, then reassign the guy who suggested taking pictures to a few years in the Ulan Bator Sales Office.
      (Mongolian speakers will I hope forgive my spelling.)

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
  2. MS Paint Prototypes? by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Here's some photos of my hand with black bocks over everything. But they're prototypes. I swear. Please don't buy something from Apple.

    1. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by Superdarion · · Score: 1

      Maybe they're flexible LED screens with blacks as good as the old CRTs. That I'd buy.

    2. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The pics look like a blacked out iPad, iPhone and iWatch ... or HP Slate, Palm Pre and Casio digital watch. Either way I'm not holding my breath.

    3. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by tekgoblin · · Score: 1

      Id be curious if Apple is developing a small iPod that will attach to your wrist. And I bet that HP is trying to do the same thing but Apple might nail it unless HP has something really creative up their sleeve.

      --
      TekGoblin
    4. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh, I thought HP was buying Amazon.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    5. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 1

      Here's some photos of my hand with black bocks over everything. But they're prototypes. I swear. Please don't buy something from Apple.

      It's sad. Sad in a middle aged business man who buys a Vanilla Ice album to be "down with the kids" sort of way. Why don't they just churn out the grey corporate stuff like they do so well ?

      --
      If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
    6. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by davester666 · · Score: 1

      Because they can see how many billion's in profits Apple is racking in every quarter from the three new market-defining products they've introduced in the past 10 years [iPod, iPhone, and iPad].

      And they so want to be hip and cool and down with that and jiggy with it.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    7. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      I was thinking the phone looked more like an HTC Desire.

    8. Re:MS Paint Prototypes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The rumored new iPod nano that is basically all screen would fit that bill.

  3. Worthless article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What the fuck is this? One short paragraph and three photos showing black rectangles?

    1. Re:Worthless article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Color me blind, but I only see two photos. Also, it's HP so chances are, unless it prints, it is going to suck.

      Maybe the featured device is a printer that automatically obfuscates any important details!

    2. Re:Worthless article by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe the featured device is a printer that automatically obfuscates any important details!

      If that's their new product they'll sell a million of them to governments around the world ;-)

    3. Re:Worthless article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it's HP so chances are, unless it prints, it is going to suck.

      Actually... chances are, that if it prints, it also sucks - it will especially suck ink and thus money out of your wallet.

    4. Re:Worthless article by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      there are only two photos. But if you look again, the watch is blacked out in both pictures.

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    5. Re:Worthless article by black3d · · Score: 1

      It is disappointing when there's so many good articles in the 'hose.

      --
      "The true measure of a person is how they act when they know they won't get caught." - DSRilk
    6. Re:Worthless article by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 2
      TFS:

      Note: the pictures' most relevant bits are blacked out...but they have me curious, especially about the wrist-worn device.

      That's his ESD strap. You've been trolled.

    7. Re:Worthless article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Well you aren't supposed to actually read it.

    8. Re:Worthless article by shadowrat · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's actually an ad for a new reality show from the makers of 16 and pregnant. You won't be able to tear yourself away from the trainwreck that unfolds as tech companies make ever more desperate attempts to take attention away from apple.

    9. Re:Worthless article by treeves · · Score: 1

      My first thought was no way - I don't see any wire coming from the wrist. Then I thought: it could be behind his hand, I suppose. There certainly are a lot of wires in the photos.
      Still, I don't think it is one. Why would you need one to hold a finished product in a case? OTOH, it is HP, so maybe you do need one.
      It's a pretty lame attempt to try and muster interest in HP with these blacked-out images.
      Oh well, one good thing was seeing this on his desk and learning what it is.

      --
      ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
  4. Did I miss anything? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This in the sweet land of milk and honey is this a goddamn story?!

  5. Here's to hoping by Pojut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    WebOS is a decent piece of software...here's to hoping HP leverages it intelligently.

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Here's to hoping by rdean400 · · Score: 1

      Indeed. I think it's arguably a more elegant operating system than Android or iOS. I look forward to seeing what's next, especially since my Pre is getting a bit long in the tooth.

    2. Re:Here's to hoping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your (and my) Pre has been out for less than a year...

    3. Re:Here's to hoping by mickwd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Let's hope they use it intelligently.

      Why use a pretentious three-syllable management-wank-speak word in place of a perfectly acceptable single-syllable word which means the same thing?

    4. Re:Here's to hoping by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Because it's there.

      HEY-OOOHHH

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    5. Re:Here's to hoping by JDAustin · · Score: 1

      The pre has been out for 14 months now.

    6. Re:Here's to hoping by TigerTime · · Score: 1

      The Pre was introduced at CES 2009, which is in January. So it's been "out" for over a year and a half.

    7. Re:Here's to hoping by bhartman34 · · Score: 1

      It was announced at CES, but it wasn't released until last June.

    8. Re:Here's to hoping by bhartman34 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Probably because "using" something and "leveraging" it are not the same thing.

      They could "use" WebOS in any number of different pieces of hardware, but if the hardware they put it in doesn't really benefit from what WebOS can do (e.g., with the multitasking and Synergy, especially), then they haven't leveraged it well at all. Leveraging a product means you use it in such a way to make other products attractive, as well.

      For example: Let's say HP decided to put WebOS exclusively on tablets. You could certainly argue that tablets are a good use scenario for WebOS, but they certainly couldn't be said to be leveraging WebOS well, if that were the case.

    9. Re:Here's to hoping by david@ecsd.com · · Score: 1

      Yeah, right. Right now, deep in HP's R&D labs, they're trying to figure out a way for cell phones to use ink.

    10. Re:Here's to hoping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      a perfectly acceptable single-syllable word which means the same thing?

      Shit?

      Crap?

    11. Re:Here's to hoping by hitmark · · Score: 1

      At least it's more open for user modifications from what i can tell. Android seems to be heading towards iOS level shackles to gain favor with carriers and such. Hell, not only do Google put very specific requirements on what devices they allow even the free section of Market on, you need a Gmail account to access said free section. And that account can (or did this change recently?) not be changed unless you reset the whole device. And even then each carrier can decide what apps they want to allow onto their network.

      I just hope Meego shows up on more then Atom based devices and Nokia phones, tho so far it's not promising.

      --
      comment first, facts later. http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/RelativityofWrong.htm
    12. Re:Here's to hoping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe he just finished watching "Battlefield Earth" and was impressed by the writing?

  6. Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by skoda · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ooh! Look! They've invented paper and the $0.99 solar-powered calculator!

    HP's already announced and seemingly canceled amazing new Win7 tablet. They've bought WebOS and then suggested that they're going to stuff it in printers, so forget about tablets for now. So what are they doing here? More stuff that doesn't exist or won't leave the lab? Or won't be sold until I've already bought my iPad 2?

    Why don't these companies mimic Apple where it matters? Don't rumor, tease, prototype, spin, et cyk? Shut up until you've got something work talking about...and then release it!

    --
    ShoutingMan.com
    1. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Eevee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Shut up until you've got something work talking about...and then release it!

      They'll release it as soon as they figure out how to require it to use up an ink cartridge once a week.

    2. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by MrHanky · · Score: 1

      Except, of course, that Apple is the master of rumour and spin (the rumours of an Apple phone went on for years before they actually released it). HP is just doing it wrong: they release pictures through official channels instead of sending words to fanboy bloggers. Then again, the community of HP fanboys is very small, if it exists at all.

    3. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then again, the community of HP fanboys is very small, if it exists at all.

      We all want black rectangles with RPN!

    4. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Idiomatick · · Score: 1

      That is what you think apple's release system is? really? ... It may be a bit more complicated.
      http://www.misterbg.org/AppleProductCycle/

    5. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Martin+Blank · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They've bought WebOS and then suggested that they're going to stuff it in printers, so forget about tablets for now.

      They've already confirmed the WebOS tablet for Q1 2011 (once in an all-hands meeting and once in the quarterly results conference call), and have said a couple of times that the Win7 tablet is not dead.

      --
      You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
    6. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Why don't these companies mimic Apple where it matters? Don't rumor, tease, prototype, spin, et cyk? Shut up until you've got something work talking about...and then release it!

      http://theweek.com/article/index/104971/Apple_Tablet_rumors_A_comprehensive_timeline

      Tablet rumors began *in 2003*. Apple is the master of rumor, tease, prototype, spin, etc. They never come right out and say anything, but they keep nudging you with their elbow while waggling their eyebrows suggestively in the direction of their projects going "Eh? Know what I mean? Know what I mean? Nudge nudge. Nudge nudge. Know what I mean? Say no more...know what I mean? A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat, eh?"

    7. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Psst....you...over there..... Now keep this quiet, but that is already a completed feature. When using the HP Art** device, it squirts rectangular blocks at any passing camera device. Unfortunately this feature is pushing back the release date; any attempt to use the built-in camera causes the device to lockup and spontaneously combust.

      /luckily it doesn't taste very good //Dagobah system

    8. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that would be the best product ever: a tablet for graffiti painters that after the picture is finished it also paint the wall up to a square feet.

      there already is a prototype:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKK933KK6Gg#t=1m08s

    9. Re:Why does no one mimic Apple where it counts? by JSBiff · · Score: 1

      Problem solved: all HP devices will automatically located HP printers on any network in range and send advertisements to the printers at random intervals.

  7. A new low by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    For content here at Slashdot. If you don't have the imagination to make up something, then redact some random shapes in a picture and call it 'news'.

    Come on now guys. This is embarrassing.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    1. Re:A new low by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's Sunday. This is just the Slashdot way of saying that this is an open thread and you can talk about whatever you want since the entire story is offtopic.

      So I was thinking, tritium-deuterium fusion is soo overrated. Proton-boron fusion is where it's at.

    2. Re:A new low by burisch_research · · Score: 2, Funny

      Absolutely. But the ideal of aneurotic fusion isn't quite with us yet. What I want to know is, why isn't anyone investing heavily in IEC fusion?!

      --
      char*f="char*f=%c%s%c;main(){printf(f,34,f,34);}";main(){printf(f,34,f,34);}
    3. Re:A new low by xtracto · · Score: 1

      How did that go?

      Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

      BTW just today I started tinkering with ActiveDesktop... it is really cool what you can achieve with a bit of HTML and "stealing" data from some web pages...

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
  8. No enhance?? by Pe_Ell · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm sure CSI could show us what was there... they can even show us encrypted IPs! ENHANCE!!

    --
    Midget Tosser
    1. Re:No enhance?? by arb+phd+slp · · Score: 1

      Is that a reflection of the device in his glasses? Zoom in and enhance!

      --
      There's a perfect xkcd for my sig but I'm too lazy to look it up. sudo someone go find it.
  9. Given it away already? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's the round bracelet-like object on his desk? Did the censors miss one?

    1. Re:Given it away already? by Cwix · · Score: 1

      It looks like a pair of headphones to me

      --
      You are entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts.
  10. Oh look, a [REDACTED] by MrEricSir · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, that's incredible! I have a [REDACTED] but it doesn't run [REDACTED] operating system, nor does it have [REDACTED] feature!

    I can't wait to see what [REDACTED] HP comes out with next!

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  11. "subtlety of an expurgated FBI document" by John+Hasler · · Score: 1

    Meaning that all will be revealed as soon as somebody fiddles with the metadata a bit?

    --
    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    1. Re:"subtlety of an expurgated FBI document" by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 1

      I've seen it happen. Sometimes EXIF data contains a thumbnail image of the uncensored pic.

      --
      If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
  12. It's a new type of GUI interface! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    All black controls labeled in black on a black background.

    (With apologies to Douglas Adams)

    1. Re:It's a new type of GUI interface! by TheGothicGuardian · · Score: 1

      That's exactly how my Razer Arctosa keyboard looks.

  13. I guessed wrong by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    Note: the pictures' most relevant bits are blacked out with the subtlety of an expurgated FBI document, but they have me curious, especially about the wrist-worn device.

    I thought at first it might be a two-way video wristwatch - but the guy wearing it doesn't look like Dick Tracy at all.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:I guessed wrong by OolimPhon · · Score: 1

      I thought at first it might be a two-way video wristwatch - but the guy wearing it doesn't look like Dick Tracy at all.

      I'm not sure about Tracy, but you got the other bit right.

  14. I have been expecting this for a while now by erroneus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Computers and personal storage can get as small as imaginable. It takes decreasing amounts of power to process and store data. The more power is being used for wireless I/O and display devices.

    What I am guessing we are seeing here is that the data processor and storage device is on his wrist. Using a low power, high speed data link, the hand-held devices are little more than a display with input functionality. So, he picks one up, and the wrist device connects to it and that becomes his hand-held device. He picks up another, and THAT becomes the hand-held device. For an even more enhanced experience, a wireless I/O device and client software can be connected to your desktop PC, and you can sync and exchange data with your wrist device and also use the PC for its console.

    And since the wrist device needs little to no controls, it is pretty trivial to make it rugged and durable. And since it's attached to your wrist, it isn't getting lost or misplaced quite so easily.

    1. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by taxman_10m · · Score: 1

      Will it also double as a watch?

    2. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by erroneus · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hadn't considered that possibility. However, with the right attachments, it could also be used as a screwdriver and to open cans and bottles.

    3. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by dakohli · · Score: 5, Interesting
      So, this is HP's plan:

      Put out a few pictures of nothing, and let the geeks speculate on what it is. Then mine the responses for the best ideas. Voila, a plan for the future!

    4. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by evilWurst · · Score: 2, Interesting

      IMO, it would be a better idea for it to be the other way around; have a microsd and low power bluetooth inside the watch casing with the battery. Store things like program personalization profiles, bookmarks, ebooks, and maybe some mp3s in there, and authorize other devices to access them. This works out nicely because the watch can probably do all this and still be the same (small) size and have the same long battery life that we expect out of watches, still be waterproof, and since it's strapped to your wrist you're unlikely to lose it or run it through the washer/dryer or have it stolen.

      With a decent display, it should also be able to show info from other devices. Specifically, maybe caller ID/text message/email alerts from the cellphone that's sitting in your pocket in silent mode. Since the display is very tiny, this shouldn't make it all that much more expensive, judging by what some mp3 players in the $50 range have today. Nor should it make the watch ungainly large; watches with these features can still be traditional fashion accessories for those that want them to be.

      It'd be nice if it all integrated well with the blacked out... smartphone-pda and tablet/bookreader?... in the pic, as well as your laptop/desktop. Since microsd cards already come in 4/8/16 GB capacities, then in addition to automagical profile synching, you could actually store a decently useful amount of additional data in a watch and have it more easily accessible than the USB flash drive on your keychain.

    5. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The wrist device is a kinetic induction charger and the tablet is designed as a semi viscous fluid proof go anywhere media device which plays a random selection of modern rock while any video is running.

    6. Re:I have been expecting this for a while now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Though Apple did employ this exact marketing strategy successfully before to hype their upcoming products.

  15. Could this be... by appleb · · Score: 1

    A new version of the the HP-01? http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp01.htm

  16. Take that, CERN! by Sean_Inconsequential · · Score: 3, Funny

    In other news, HP has beaten CERN in the race to create miniature black holes.

  17. Incomplete Redaction? by pz · · Score: 1

    In both images, there is a partial view of a white item that looks very much like a wristband device off to the right, sitting on the keyboard-ish tablet.

    Perhaps this is the same item as what's been blacked out on the subject's wrist?

    --

    Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
  18. Why would anyone by Bruha · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Aside from people who just do not like Apple, why would anyone buy this vs an iPad. All this HDMI hype means nothing when your video has to be your own, and while the iPad does not have this yet it's possible it can in the future. Apple has a lock on app developers and most people can tell that the same apps made for other systems by the same developers are nothing more than enough to silence people crying for that app on that platform, it has just enough features to make it usable, but usually half of what the iOS version does.

    Is Apple's lead in consumer tech insurmountable? In some cases yes, nobody is going to topple the iPod but Apple, are there other niche's that could be explored? Yes, but will it be as profitable. Within 10 years I predict that 50+ percent of all media will be in the cloud, as much as I hate DRM, I would swoon over a way to take my 800+ dvd/blu ray collection and have some virtual version of it that I can serve up on any device I'd like. Apple is the company that's about as close as it gets to this version.

    Until Apple does something monumentally stupid, they're going to be in the front for a long time.

    1. Re:Why would anyone by Zorque · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "people who just do not like Apple"

      I think you underestimate just how many of us there are. Aside from that, any HP product is probably going to be 2/3 to half the price of the competing Apple product, and likely be more open as well.

    2. Re:Why would anyone by mjwx · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Until Apple does something monumentally stupid.

      That has already happened. We are just waiting for the other shoe to drop now. Lets compare some history shall we.

      Apple Computers: Released an overpriced PC that was eaten alive by cheaper more functional competitors.
      Apple Inc: Releases an overpriced tablet that will be eaten alive by cheaper and more functional competitors.

      Apple Computers: Sues Microsoft over allegedly infringing the "look and feel" of their OS claiming ownership to basic elements. Apple Computers lose.
      Apple Inc: Sues HTC over allegedly infringing software patents which are spurious and overreaching at best. Apple Inc will lose here.

      Apple Computers: Nearing bankruptcy due to poor products and losing expensive law suits accepts a cash injection from Microsoft in order to get the DOJ of Microsoft's back claiming Apple as a competitor.
      Apple Inc: Nearing bankruptcy due to poor products and losing expensive law suits finds themselves acquired by a larger, more successful entity (my money's on Microsoft).

      History has a habit of repeating itself. Apple began to fail when they determined that money was better spent suing HTC over spurious software patents (most, if not all have prior art and SW patents are only recognised in the US, HTC is a Taiwanese company with global reach). We've seen this happen countless times before, including to the now defunct Apple Computers of the 70's and 80's. When a business model turns from innovation to litigation then failure is inevitable. Yes Apple will lose a lot of money as they depend on their stock price too much, that 50B in the bank wont even pay for 1 quarter if their stock drops. I'm tipping it to be a .bomb 2.0 or iCrash if you will.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    3. Re:Why would anyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      History only repeats itself for the unimaginative people who always keep seeing the same thing.

  19. They missed one! by PatPending · · Score: 1

    Someone neglected to black-out the top-secret product attached to the collar of his t-shirt. OMG! It looks like it's an iPen killer!

    --
    What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
  20. This is so not for old people... by cvtan · · Score: 1

    If the whole thing is a touch screen how am I supposed to hold it up? Maybe it just floats in space and I gesture wildly in front of it like trying to talk to some alien that can't understand my language.

    --
    Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
  21. Henry for school of product design by shadowrat · · Score: 1

    You can have anything you want as long as it's a black box.

  22. Likely candidates by bhartman34 · · Score: 1

    The tablet doesn't look too different (in size) from this, does it? The watch is probably similar (other than color) to the one in the picture, isn't it? No idea about the handheld device, although I assume it's a phone, and that it's probably running WebOS. I'd be very surprised if it looked radically different from the Pre or Pixi (although from the looks of it, my imagination goes more towards a Pixi look than a Pre one.

    Of course, I could be completely wrong on all counts, but I'd be surprised if the phone and tablet looked radically different.

  23. I don't want to be around... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't want to be around at the moment HP realizes we're not laughing with them.

  24. The wearable... by Bieeanda · · Score: 1

    ...is clearly a wrist-mounted pager that notifies you that you're out of toner.

  25. Remember the pocket-watch? by howzit · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Look at old photographs in the 1800's. How long did people carry pocket-watches on chains before some-one thought--'why not wear the watch on your wrist?' Same with mobiles and I/O devices. It HAS to come. 'Do you remember Dick Tracy, do you remember Shane ?'

  26. Monoliths obviously... by philipmather · · Score: 0

    Anyone checked the ratio of those two black boxes to ensure neither is in the proportions of 1:4:9?
    Maybe the wrist worn one is a 16 dimensional monolith whose projection into our space turns out to be in the form of a Möbius strip.
    If they aren't monoliths then Slashdot has really hit silly season.

    --
    Regards, Phil
  27. It's obvious what the devices are. by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

    The wrist thing is a wireless ESD armband.

    The large thing is a touchscreen-driven digital notepad. It doesn't have storage capabilities but it will help you be more engineery by wiping itself unless you write your notes in RPN.

    The small thing is a next-generation printer cartridge with built-in "retina" display, which not only enables it to show you how much ink it has left in realtime but also makes it more expensive by a full order of magnitude than the printer itself.

    --
    USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  28. Back to the future by Yeechang+Lee · · Score: 2, Informative

    This wouldn't be the first wristwatch from HP. The company sold the HP-01 from 1977 to 1980. It was a calculator watch that was very advanced for its time (At $750, it should have been!).

  29. HP - Innovate by PolarIced · · Score: 1

    Wow!

    A pad device! AND some sort of phone! Maybe a SMART PHONE! GO HP!!!

    How timely!

  30. I think I figured out the black rectangles! by rrossman2 · · Score: 1

    The big black rectangle is an iPad, the smaller one is just a Nokia phone, and the wristband is blacked out to hide the guys' cheap ass "Rolex" watch he purchased on Canal Street!

  31. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  32. seriously...? by zcold · · Score: 1

    LOL... hilarious, take away the black squares and there is nothing there.... I have the reverse photoshop plugin... He might as well have tweeted, we have the best new shit in the world, just you wait!

    --
    you know you can fry stuff putting things into things that dont like the things you put into it...
  33. Mark Hurd filed to dump US$30-million of HP shares by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    http://www.financialpost.com/news/Mark+Hurd+filed+dump+million+shares/3445806/story.html

    HP authorizes $10B share buyback

    http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/08/30/business-technology-hardware-amp-equipment-us-hewlett-packard-share-buyback_7886721.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews

    Ten billion dollars.

    HP could set up a research and develop department to develop a WARP DRIVE.

    HP could put a base on the Moon!

    HP could own the moon for 10 billion dollars.

    Instead, it is a cheap ass stunt to drive up the price of shares that the board owns.

    The same board that fired Mark Hurd.

    This is a crime.

    HP could hire every engineer in the USA for 10 billion dollars.

    HP ups stakes in 3PAR bid war

    http://www.financialpost.com/news/stakes+3PAR/3453785/story.html

    Why buy? YOu have 10 billion dollars to develop!

    Mr. Hewlitt and Mr. Packard are freaking out.

  34. Black squares can't hide things... by knix · · Score: 1

    Just select all, copy and paste somewhere else. Then you'll be able to see what's under those black squares right?